Chapter Twenty: A Shout Against Injustice (2)

Zhao Qingpan glared furiously, spitting at him. "Nonsense... You're talking rubbish."

"You wretched woman, you're looking for death." The man's face darkened with anger as he raised his hand, ready to slap her.

The onlookers could only shake their heads and sigh; with officials from the yamen present, no one dared to intervene.

Zhao Qingpan stared right back, showing not a trace of fear.

Shi Yi frowned, seized the opportunity to dart out from the crowd, and in two strides, firmly grasped the man's wrist.

"Young Master Wu, what a temper you have!"

"Shi Yi?" Wu Qingtang turned his head and recognized him, his expression momentarily stunned.

Upon hearing that name, Captain Fang, who had been about to draw his blade, immediately changed his demeanor. He hastily waved away the officers who had surged forward, scolding, "Put your swords away at once! This is Young Master Shi—are you all blind?"

With a glare from Captain Fang, the lesser officers trembled and stepped back.

He quickly approached, plastering a smile on his face. "Heh heh, Young Master Shi, what brings you here?"

Shi Yi cast him a cold glance, ignoring him, but tightened his grip a little more.

"Shi... Shi Yi, let go!" Wu Qingtang cried out in pain, his face contorted in misery.

At that moment, another well-dressed young man who had accompanied Wu stepped forward to mediate. "Shi Yi, let him go. Let's talk this out calmly."

Shi Yi knew both men well. Wu Qingtang was the eldest son of Wu Tianyou from the Ministry of Communications; his elder sister had entered the palace years ago and was now favored by the Emperor. The other was Qiu Shujun, son of Captain Qiu of the Capital Guard, whose father was close to Prince Zhongshun.

Just today, that pompous prince had tried to intimidate him, so Shi Yi had no intention of showing a pleasant face now.

He sneered. "So, Young Master Qiu, you're here to help snatch women off the streets as well, committing such heinous acts with no regard for the law?"

"Shi Yi, mind your words!" Wu Qingtang barked, eyes wide.

Shi Yi gave a silent snort, paying him no heed but tightening his grip even further.

"Ouch, ouch, you're killing me!" Wu Qingtang’s face turned from blue to white with pain.

Qiu Shujun snapped coldly, "Shi Yi, let him go at once. Oppressing others without cause—is that your way of challenging the law of the land?"

Wu Qingtang, tears streaming down his cheeks from the pain, cursed bitterly, "Shi... Shi Yi, you've made an enemy of me today. If anything happens to me, once my sister is made Imperial Consort, she will have your head!"

Seeing the tension, Captain Fang hurried forward to counsel in a low voice, "Young Master Yi, perhaps you should let Young Master Wu go. As the saying goes, leave some room for future encounters."

"Are you teaching me how to behave?" Shi Yi shot him a frosty glare.

Captain Fang immediately shut his mouth and retreated awkwardly to one side.

Shi Yi gave a cold snort, and as he released Wu Qingtang, he gave his arm a hard twist to the side.

Wu Qingtang staggered forward, thrown off balance, and Shi Yi took the opportunity to plant a heavy kick on his backside.

With a cry, Wu Qingtang sprawled on the ground like a clumsy toad.

The crowd erupted into laughter, while several officers hurried to help him up.

Shi Yi’s cold laughter cut through the commotion. "Young Master Wu, such authority! Already planning executions? Is the court your family’s playground? My father was granted the title of Marquis of Loyal Tranquility by the Emperor himself. If you threaten to behead me, are you planning to be Emperor yourself?"

Wu Qingtang had spoken recklessly, and now Shi Yi twisted his words, making it seem as if he had committed treason.

Wu Qingtang’s face turned ashen with fear; forgetting his pain, he stammered, "You... you're lying! When did I say such a thing? You have no proof. This is slander." But his voice lacked conviction.

Shi Yi scoffed. "Since that's the case, how dare you arrest someone on the street without evidence? Do you take the Emperor and the law of Dashun as mere decorations?"

The sudden turn of conversation left Captain Fang, Qiu Shujun, and Wu Qingtang all at a loss.

Wu Qingtang, his face twisted, stubbornly retorted, "That wretched woman's brother stole from me. I came to question her. What's wrong with that?"

Captain Fang added, "Young Master Yi, by Dashun law, relatives of criminals may be detained for questioning."

Zhao Qingpan protested sharply, "That's nonsense! I have no brother!"

Shi Yi frowned. "Yet your aggressive behavior, drawing swords, hardly seems like you’re here to make a lawful arrest. Miss Zhao is innocent of any crime; without evidence, you have no right to take her."

Captain Fang hesitated, glancing at Wu Qingtang.

Shi Yi pressed on, his tone icy. "Besides, just now Young Master Wu was making vulgar threats. Who knows if this is a lawful arrest or simply a cover for malice? And tell me, do you have the proper writ of arrest from the yamen?"

At this, murmurs rippled through the crowd, though none dared step forward in support.

"Well..." Captain Fang was clearly troubled, wavering.

He pulled Wu Qingtang and Qiu Shujun aside and whispered, "Gentlemen, it seems we won't be able to take her today. Perhaps... another time?"

Qiu Shujun nodded, frowning, but Wu Qingtang gritted his teeth. "Captain Fang, wait a moment. Let me think of a way to get rid of that troublemaker."

He had been fixated on Zhao Qingpan for days. Ever since he’d heard she was the famed thief’s sister, he’d been plotting. He’d never tasted such wild beauty, and wasn’t about to give up so easily.

Captain Fang urged, "Young Master Wu, be quick. The crowd is growing. If this stirs up higher authorities, I won’t be able to answer for it."

"Miss Zhao, are you all right?" Shi Yi turned and asked.

Seeing the upright and gallant young man before her, Zhao Qingpan’s heart fluttered unexpectedly. She lowered her gaze. "I... I’m fine. Thank you for your help, sir."

Shi Yi smiled slightly, noting her delicate features and shapely figure, though her complexion was a bit dark.

Feeling his gaze, Zhao Qingpan, flustered, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Just then, Wu Qingtang approached and tugged at Shi Yi’s sleeve.

Shi Yi’s brow furrowed and he brushed him off without courtesy.

Wu Qingtang wasn’t offended and smiled. "Shi Yi, forgive my earlier rudeness."

His abrupt change in attitude was the very picture of a wolf giving New Year’s greetings to a chicken.

Shi Yi remained unsmiling. "If you have something to say, spit it out."

Wu Qingtang hesitated, then whispered, "Name your price. How much silver will it take for you to stay out of this?"

Shi Yi looked at him meaningfully, not bothering to reply.

Behind him, Zhao Qingpan sized Wu Qingtang up coldly, gripping her wooden spear tightly, her thoughts unreadable.

Wu Qingtang pressed Shi Yi anxiously, "My sister is a favored consort in the palace and could be made Imperial Consort at any moment. Are you sure the Shi family wants to make an enemy of the Wu family?"

Shi Yi smiled faintly, then his expression changed abruptly. Without warning, he spat a ten-year-old wad of phlegm directly onto Wu Qingtang’s embroidered robe.

Wu Qingtang stood stunned, then his face darkened. He stepped back, pointed angrily at Shi Yi, and choked, "Shi Yi! How dare you..."

Shi Yi sneered. "Wu family, Qiu family, none of it matters to me. Nothing comes before my own amusement. Were you threatening me just now? Sorry—I’ve lived two lifetimes, and if there’s one thing I hate, it’s being threatened."

With that, he took Zhao Qingpan by the wrist and strode away.

Wu Qingtang stood trembling with rage, fists clenched, glaring at their retreating backs.

There was no reply.

Only when Shi Yi had disappeared entirely from view did Wu Qingtang, overwhelmed by fury, stand there shaking, his fists clenched tight.